Rising to 1034 metres above sea level, the Mittagstein sits right in the middle of the Kaitersberg ridge in the Bavarian Forest — a summit that rewards hikers with both a peaceful chapel and one of the finest viewpoints in the range.

The wooded summit is home to a small memorial chapel dedicated to fallen soldiers, a quiet spot tucked among the trees. A short walk away, a rocky viewpoint opens up over the Zellertal valley and across to the Großer Riedelstein. In summer the trails wind through cool, shaded forest; in winter the ridge takes on a hushed, snowy character, and the hut just below the summit offers a welcome stop for something warm to eat.

How to reach the summit

• From Hohenwarth — moderate difficulty, one of several classic approaches
• From Bad Kötzting, Bärndorf or Steinbühl — alternative starting points with varying trail character

Good to know

• The Kötztinger Hütte, just below the summit, is staffed daily throughout summer, but only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in winter
• Mittagstein is a highlight along the popular full Kaitersberg ridge traverse — the long-distance E6 trail from Bad Kötzting via Kreuzfelsen, Mittagstein, Rauchröhren and Großer Riedelstein to the Ecker Sattel

Between the memorial chapel and the sweeping view over the Zellertal, Mittagstein is the kind of summit that invites you to linger rather than just tick off the list.